Audience Research

What audiences are drawn to thrillers?

For thrillers there is no specific target audience for them as it depends of which sub genre of thriller the film belongs too is is recommended the age to see a thriller would be over 12. Each sub genre of thriller has a specific target audience because of the suspense and the narrative of the story due to the contents they have. The typical audience for thrillers would often be those who enjoy the tension and anticipation of films but also excitement and thrill. 

Before making movies the producers, direction and and all those who make important decisions what audience type they are aiming the film at. to do this they take count of the Social Profiling of the audience what groups they fit into, the Demographics profiling as well as Psychological profiling.

  Social Profiling

Social profiling is used by producers to find out who the film will attract and what they target it at. It classifies the audience and puts them into a series of grades. The grades are formed by looking at what type of career, the audience has and the amount of money that they make. Because social profiling groups the different catagorises together it does not treat people as individuals so some may be put into the audience which don't actually like the type of film. There are six grades they can be placed into. They use the following in social profiling to help: 

• A - Higher Managerial, well paid professionals such as:
• Judges
• Surgeons
• Bankers
• Lawyers
• B - Middle Management which are fairly well paid professionals like:
• Teachers 
• Doctors 
• Graphic Designers 

• C1 - Skilled Non Manual; Supervisory (White Collar Jobs)
• Clerical
• Junior Management
• Bank Clerk
• Nurses

• C2 - Skilled Worker (Blue Collar)
• Joiners
• Electricians
• Plumbers
• Painters

• D - Semi and Unskilled Manual Work
• Driver
• Postman
• Farmer

• E - Lower Level 
• Pensioners
• Students
• Casual Workers
• Unemployed 

Demographic Profiling

Through questionnaires and focus groups and comparison to find out what type of audience they want their film to be aimed at, otherwise no one will watch the movie and the stand to make no money. All the research done is then catagorised by:

• Age
• Family Life Cycle
• Gender
• Location
• Race
• Sexuality 

Psychological Profiling 

The use of psychological profiling makes profiles of potential profiles which will represent the types of people who will make up the target audience. By doing this we are essentially answering questions on the behalf of our target audience. Whenever anyone plans to produce a new film they have to ask various questions such as the ones above to ask and there is many more questions. When doing my opening sequence for a thriller my group and I will have to ask ourselves and others these questions to be a bale to find a target audience.

Questions such as these are used in an attempt to find their target audience:

  

1. What their names, age, genders, occupation, family details?
2. What are their interests, habits, hobbies, and pastimes?
3. What influences them? Religion? Politics?
4. Beliefs?
5. Where they hangout? Shop? Eat?  
6. How do they get information? Travel? Dress? 

Furthermore, when trying to gain the perfect target audience, personality types are important. The audience members will either be:

• Mainstreamers/Conformists
• They like to follow a crowd and what there friends are doing.

• Aspirers
• Using consumption as a way to indicate a status.

• Succeeders
• Confident in success that has been achieved, and consuming in an understated yet sophisticated way.

• Reformers
• Consuming in a way which makes a statement for change and is often wanting to be seen as challenging the establishment.

• Individualists
• Ignoring fashion trend and making your own impression on the world with no care for what others think. 

Profiling affects how and what your opening sequence or film will be about because you have to plan around what kind of people who will watch the film.

BBFC Classification Guidelines

Many English films classify which age group they aim the audience at through BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) guidelines. this is a guide to which age group/ audience a film will be aimed at based on what they are about and what they contain that may note suitable for other age groups.

 The BBFC classifies films on behalf of the local authorities who license cinemas under the Licensing Act of 2003.

Films Classified as U, for universal means is suitable for children, teens and adults of all ages as there is no upsetting contents. it is recommended however that the child who watches a U certified film be over the age of four so they have an understanding of what they are watching and the context in the film. U films offer a counter balance to violence, horror or threats as they are very moral movies sending positive images to the views.

 PG stands for Parental Guidance and if a film is certified as a PG film it is a general viewing but there are some scenes which can be unsuitable for young children. It is recommended that children ages 8 and over can watch PG films unaccompanied but parents are advised to consider the contents of the film as it may be upsetting to a younger child who is more sensitive.

A 12 or 12A is only suitable for children over the age of 12. they both have the same criteria. the material uses in 12 and 12A is generally aimed at those of the age 12 and over not for any children younger as the work shown may be upsetting to those under the recommended age group as parents will find it unsuitable. 

12A is only used in cinema screenings and no one under this age is permitted to watch the film unless accompanied by an adult. An adult is allowed to take a younger child to the film at their own choice and if they feel the film is suitable for the child to watch. If they do decide to take the child it is their responsibility.

A 15 rated film is only suitable for the age 15 and over and no one under this age is allowed to rent the movie. 15 rated movies often include sexual references as well as violence, drugs, swearing (cursing) and references to other contents that would be deemed unsuitable for anyone younger than 15.

Much like a 15, and 18 included more violence and gore depending on the film. The reason for it being different to a 15 is that it includes a lot more swearing and use of inappropriate language. there is often full frontal nudity. No one under the age of 18 is allowed to rend or purchase a film rated 18.No one younger than18 can watch such films.

The most appropriate BBFC Classification Guideline for a Psychological Thriller would be a 15 because there can be references to violence, drugs, swearing and sex which would not be applicable to a 12 and an 18 would be involve more contents which wont be needed.